These points regarding the use of centrifuges must not be oversimplified.

Release time:

2020-05-15


Overview:

The centrifuge is a regular “guest” in hospital laboratories, and as such, it handles a heavy workload. Every day, it processes various clinical specimens—including patient blood, body fluids, secretions, and excreta—making the centrifuge highly utilized. Therefore, it’s crucial to choose a sealed centrifuge that is safe, performs well, has standard certifications, and features safety measures such as automatic rotor recognition and lid-lock operation to ensure safety.

    Centrifuge is a regular resident in the hospital’s laboratory department. Guest Therefore, the workload is substantial, as we are required to perform tests on a wide variety of clinical specimens every day, including patient blood, body fluids, secretions, and excreta. As a result, centrifuges are used very intensively. It is crucial to select sealed centrifuges that are safe, high-performing, and certified to meet standards, and that feature safety measures such as automatic rotor recognition and lid-locking operation, in order to ensure safety. During use, if centrifuge tubes are not properly sealed or if tubes break, causing liquid to spill and contaminate the centrifuge, the interior of the centrifuge should be immediately disinfected. Particularly when there is a risk of contamination by hepatitis viruses or Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the centrifuge can be wiped down with a neutral glutaraldehyde solution or subjected to total disinfection using ethylene oxide.

  Basic principles to be followed when using a centrifuge:

  1. The six centrifuge tubes can be loaded with sample loads at different times, but the samples must be loaded symmetrically.

  2. It is normal for the centrifuge to vibrate when it accelerates to 600–800 r/min.

  3. When the buzzer sounds, press... “ Clear ” The key stops sounding.

  4. The machine cannot be started when it is shutting down and slowing down.

  5. If abnormal vibration exceeds the normal range, the imbalance indicator light will illuminate, the buzzer will sound, and the machine will automatically shut down.

  6. Once the machine is disconnected from the power supply, it must be left for three minutes before being reconnected.

  7. The two symmetrical centrifuge cups allow an unbalance of up to 10 g. Each set of centrifuge cups is balanced and configured accordingly; no other identical centrifuge cups may be mixed with this set.

  8. During the power-on process, if any abnormal display appears, turn off the power and wait three minutes before turning it back on.

  Prolonged use or improper handling can cause corrosion in centrifuges. There are two main types of corrosion: localized corrosion and uniform corrosion. Localized corrosion occurs only in specific areas and is relatively severe, with significant destructive effects. Common types of localized corrosion include pitting corrosion and erosion-corrosion. Pitting corrosion often arises from defects on the metal surface; when the centrifuge operates continuously in a solution containing corrosive elements, these defects can easily develop into pits over time. If the centrifuge is not properly maintained, this type of corrosion will only become more severe. Erosion-corrosion is a relatively common form of corrosion that is less severe than pitting corrosion. Nevertheless, it still requires attention during centrifuge maintenance. Erosion-corrosion typically results from friction between moving parts during operation. During maintenance, lubricants can be applied to bearing surfaces where components come into contact, helping to reduce friction. Regularly replacing components that show significant wear can effectively prevent erosion-corrosion. Centrifuge manufacturers have implemented numerous protective measures against corrosion. For materials that are particularly corrosive, they use different materials in the construction of centrifuges, thereby avoiding premature failure due to corrosion and extending the equipment's service life.

  When the rotor of the centrifuge is pre-cooled, the rotor lid can be placed either on the centrifuge’s platform or on the laboratory bench. Under no circumstances should the lid be left floating loosely on the rotor without being securely fastened, as an accidental startup could cause the lid to fly off and result in an accident. While the centrifuge is in the pre-cooling state, the centrifuge lid must remain closed. After the centrifugation is complete, when removing the rotor, place it upside down on the laboratory bench, wipe dry any residual water inside the chamber, and leave the centrifuge lid open. The commutator and carbon brushes should be inspected regularly (about once a year) for signs of wear; if they show excessive wear, they must be replaced immediately. During operation, if you notice any unusual noises, immediately turn off the machine and have it checked and repaired. Do not use substandard or counterfeit centrifuge tubes, nor tubes that are aged, deformed, or cracked. After the centrifuge has stopped, do not open the door or lid immediately—wait until the rotor speed has dropped to zero before opening it. The centrifuge will display the current rotor speed prominently on its screen.